Chimney Rock State Park reopens to public Saturday

After intensive road repair kept Chimney Rock State Park closed for more than a month, visitors will be able to enjoy its 75-mile panoramic views again when the park reopens Saturday.

By CAITLIN BYRDTimes-News Staff Writer

After intensive road repair kept Chimney Rock State Park closed for more than a month, visitors will be able to enjoy its 75-mile panoramic views again when the park reopens Saturday.“We're delighted to be welcoming our guests again as spring starts to arrive. With the weather warming up soon, Chimney Rock's stunning views will become lush green with spring wildflowers in bloom. It's one of our favorite seasons in the park,” said Chimney Rock Manager Mary Jaeger-Gale. “And Mother Nature has been beating us up for a while.”Last May, torrential downpours washed out the one-lane section of the park's main entrance road. Jaeger-Gale said, as a result, the road had to be repaired and a new retaining wall had to be built. The park closed in early February so crews could begin fixing the road.“It was significant work,” Jaeger-Gale said, noting that winter weather in February delayed the park's reopening. With these repairs complete, longtime visitors will notice some subtle differences when they go to the park. On one side, Jaeger-Gale said the road is still gravel because road crews will not be able to pave until the weather gets warmer in the spring.The park manager also said that some parts of Chimney Rock Park will still be closed this weekend. “The elevators are still not working. I don't want to lead anybody astray,” she said. “The other piece that is still not open is the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. We're still working to restore that trail, which was damaged during the rock slide.”However, the Outcroppings Trail will be open Saturday. “So bring your hiking boots and plan to exercise,” Jaeger-Gale joked, because that trail goes straight to the top of Chimney Rock.

Winter park hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Tuesday, with the ticket plaza closing at 4:30 p.m. The park is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays until spring. For more information, go to chimneyrockpark.com.___Reach Byrd at caitlin.byrd@blueridgenow.com or 828-694-7881.